Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) opened a hearing titled “Shaping Tomorrow: The Future of Artificial Intelligence” in Washington. In her remarks, Mace discussed the current influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on various sectors of the U.S. economy and underscored the importance of advancing AI to maintain global leadership in technology.
Mace noted that AI is already present in everyday life, from smartphone tools to systems that predict weather, recommend medicines, or help farmers increase crop yields. She compared the competition for AI dominance to past races for space and nuclear technology supremacy.
“American companies are at the frontier for this race,” Mace said. “These companies are pushing the boundaries of what advanced language models can do, and countless startups and research labs are finding new applications for AI in every corner of the economy.”
She emphasized the high stakes involved: “If the United States leads, we get to shape the standards, the ethics, and the economic benefits of this powerful technology. If we fail, we cede such influence to adversaries who do not share our values.”
Mace highlighted specific areas where AI is having an impact: healthcare with earlier cancer detection and faster drug development; transportation with safer vehicles and smarter logistics; agriculture with reduced waste and increased efficiency for farmers.
“These advances aren’t abstract. They are happening now and are creating better services, lower costs, and new opportunities for American workers and families,” she said.
Addressing uncertainty about future developments in AI—including debate over how soon artificial general intelligence might emerge—Mace called for proactive oversight. “We don’t know for certain what the future of AI will look like. But what I do know is the future is too important to be left up to chance.”
She stressed Congress’s responsibility to understand AI’s potential impacts on society and develop appropriate solutions before challenges become unmanageable.
“This Subcommittee takes seriously its responsibility to examine these issues, and I am looking forward to hearing today from experts on both the current state of AI and the possible futures which lie ahead,” she stated.
“It is essential the United States lead, not just in building these technologies, but in ensuring they are developed responsibly, deployed safely, and used in ways which advance American values,” Mace added.
The hearing included testimony from experts on current trends in artificial intelligence as well as projections about its societal effects.
James Comer is currently serving in Congress representing Kentucky’s 1st district after replacing Ed Whitfield in 2016. He has served since 2016 following prior experience as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2001 to 2012. Comer was born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972 and lives in Tompkinsville. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BS degree in 1993.
